Gillingham return for pre-season training at Beechings Cross on Monday but some of their League 2 rivals are off abroad – here’s how the rest of the division are preparing for a new season

Gillingham return to training next week but some of their rivals have already started.

We look at the early starters, the clubs heading for overseas warm-weather training, double headers and 60-minute matches.

ACCRINGTON - Accy have lined up pre-season friendlies against Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic in the first two weekends of July. They will play two 60-minute games in each, with halves lasting 30 minutes.

AFC WIMBLEDON - Johnnie Jackson’s taking his Dons team to Spain in the early days of July, heading off to Alicante between July 8-14 for five days of intensive training, rounded off with a first friendly while on tour, on July 13. The club are planning a fan meet and greet in Benidorm. They’ve also got games against Brentford and Charlton to play later in the month.

BARROW - Stephen Clemence will have a whole summer to prepare for a new season in League 2, following his sacking at the Gills. His summer friendlies include a trip to Scotland to play SPL side Kilmarnock and a home game against Spanish third-division side Real Union Club. They kick off pe-season on July 6 with an annual game against Holker Old Boys.

BRADFORD - Graham Alexander’s side returned to training on Monday, a week before most sides got back at it. They kick off pre-season with an away game at Chorley before heading off on a seven-day tour of Austria, training in the Alps and playing a game against SV Ried II. They’ve got a home game against Sunderland lined up ahead of the season starting and appear to have sorted out their problematic pitch at Valley Parade over the close season.

BROMLEY - Andy Woodman’s side will start their pre-season campaign at Isthmian Premier Division champions Hornchurch on July 13. They’ve got a tour to